Candice Kroutz-Kabongo, Digital Innovations Lead, Solidaridad

Africa’s agricultural future relies on leveraging data for innovation, efficiency, and resilience, especially for smallholder farmers who produce most of the region’s food. However, challenges like climate change, market volatility, and fragmented support systems hinder progress. While digital tools offer solutions, Western-style data ownership models—favoring individual control—risk leaving African farmers behind due to low connectivity and limited access to digital resources.

The article advocates for a collective data governance approach, where cooperatives and local institutions manage data access in alignment with Africa’s unique socio-economic realities. An open data ecosystem could eliminate inefficiencies, improve farmer services, and unlock economic opportunities by fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Key issues include redundant farmer registration, conflicting advisory services, and high costs of data collection. A shared data infrastructure would enhance coordination, ensure consistent guidance, and reduce financial burdens while empowering farmers with market insights, financing opportunities, and stronger bargaining power.

Beyond solving existing inefficiencies, open data can fuel innovation, entrepreneurship, and smarter policymaking. Governments must craft data governance policies tailored to Africa’s needs—focusing on shared ownership and farmer empowerment rather than rigid compliance with Western frameworks.